Shoe heel construction



Feb. 13, 1940. H, McGILL, r AL 2,189,812

SHOE HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 9, 1937 5L4 WW2? a AWE/V7545 /7 MW W Patented Feb. 13, 1940.

v we? 2,1 8 2 SHOE HEEL CONSTRUCTION:

John H. Meant Winchester, and. Walter H. Wedger, Belmont, Mass. assignors ;to B. B.

Chemical (70., Boston, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 9, 1937;"SerialNo. 158,018

ZOIaims. (c te-42y f This invention relates to shoe heels and more particularly to heel constructions embodying detachable leather top lifts. v

An object of this invention is toprovide a heel 5 construction embodying a detachable leather top lift which -may be readily removed; after it has become worn. :A further object is to provide a heel cons'tructionembodying a detachable leather top lift arranged to exhibit a uniformly good appearance throughout the life of the 'lift.

In accordance with the above and other objects we have provided by the present invention a heel construction embodying a detachable leather top lift wherein at least the flesh side ofthe lift contiguous, to the lower orlift-receiving surface of a wood heel is hardened or stiffened by incorporating molten sulphur in the leather. The impregnation of the molten sulphur preferably takes place on the fieshsideof a leather. lift and may extend to any desired extent therefrom. The impregnation advantageously may take place from the edges as well as the flesh side of the lift. In certain cases impregnation of the lift may take place from all the. surfacesthereof including the grain side. Leather top lifts treated in the manner described are hardened and stiffened on the flesh side of the lift so as to provide an excellent'bearing surface for a tool inserted between thelift and the heel in removing a worn lift for replacement. Moreover, portions of the lift impregnated with the molten sulphur exhibit substantial resistance to fraying whenv subjected to wear. Lifts so treated readily may be finished with the usual leather finishes and exhibit an excellent appearance. Furthermore,

the portions of a lift treated with the molten su1- phur exhibit a considerably greater resistance to the detanning and disintegrating action of water than lifts not so treated. Generally speaking, in the heel construction contemplated by this invention, except for the hardening and stiffening action of the molten sulphur, leather top lifts exhibit the general characteristics of leather.

In the drawing,

5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a treated leather top lift secured to a post;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, illustrating the improved heel construction of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a detachable top lift and adjacent portions of a wood heel illustrating the impregnation of the lift with molten sulphur from the flesh side only of the lift and to a relatively slight extent; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating arelatively deep inipregnation of the top lift from the flesh side with moltensulphur. y g v In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. :1 and 2 there is shown a shoe 2 to which "5 is secured a wood heel 4. The wood heel 4 is provided with a receiving socket 6 lined with a m'etallic'sle'eve 8. Arranged to be held by friction or other means within the receiving socket 6 and sleeve 8 is the p'ostlll provided with prongs 1'0 H which extend into the substance of the leather top lift l2 and are upset therein to provide a mechanical attachment of the post It to said lift l-2,-*t he upper or fiesh'side I4 and'edges'lii of which lift have beenimpregnated with molten 1-5 sulphur to render the same relatively stiff and hard but otherwise retaining essentially the characteristics of leather. The sulphur l! [extends downwardly toward the grain or lower side lli'of thelift l2.

-In the modification shown in Fig. 3' the sulphur I1 is shown as impregnating the lift l8 only'from the upper or flesh side 25 thereof and merely to a'slight extent.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 the sul- 25 phur I1 is shown as impregnating the lift 22 from the upper or flesh side 24 thereof to an extent closely approaching the lower or grain side 26' thereof whereby the edges 28 are also impregnated toa substantial extent. 30

Inall of the above cases the prongs II of the post l0 readily may be incorporated in the'substance of the impregnated top lifts and upset therein to provide a secure anchorage. This is due to the fact that except for the hardening and 5 stiffening effect of the impregnated molten sulphur the lifts retain the essential properties of leather. 7

In View of the fact that the upper or flesh sides of the top lifts remain firm and hard through- 40 out the life of the lifts, there is provided in all of the modifications of top lifts illustrated a firm bearing surface for the insertion of a tool between the top lift and the lower or top-lift-receiving surface 30 for ready removal of the lift when re- 5 placement thereof is desired. I

The edges of the top lift illustrated, slightly impregnated with sulphur as in Fig. 3, or impregnated with sulphur to a greater extent as in Figs. 2 and 4, take edge inks and leather finishes 50 as satisfactorily as or even better than top lifts not so treated whereby a highly desirable top lift appearance is provided for the shoe which remains throughout the life of the lift.

Furthermore, where the edges of the top lift 55 are impregnated to a substantial extent, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, such impregnated portions exhibit little if any fraying when the lift has worn down to such portions.

The impregnation of the top lifts by molten sulphur may be accomplished in the manner disclosed in our copending application, Serial No. 158,019, filed. August 9, 1937, in which said application the method of impregnation and articles resulting therefrom are claimed.

As disclosed in our said copending application, the impregnation of the flesh side and edges of the lift 12 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 may be accomplished by floating the leather lift flesh side downward for a period of 2 or 3 minutes on a bath of molten sulphur maintained at a temperature of about 120 to 130 C. Instead of floating the lift on the bath the lift may be supported in said bath at a predetermined level. The impregnation of the lifts with molten sulphur is carried out at sufficiently low temperatures and for sufficiently short periods as not to destroy the fibrousnature and essential characteristics of the leather.

The impregnation of the lift IS on the flesh side 20 only and to a slight extent (Fig. 3) may be accomplished by supporting a piece of leather stock in a molten sulphur bath at the desired level and later dieing or cutting out the lift l8 from the impregnated leather stock.

The relatively deep impregnation of the lift 22 illustrated in Fig. 4 may be accomplished by floating or supporting a leather lift in a molten sulphur bath for a sufficient time to accomplish the impregnation to the desired extent or by impregnating a larger piece of leather stock and dieing or cutting out the lift therefrom.

In the lifts illustrated in the drawing it will be noted that the grain side of the lift is left in its original condition whereby the natural leather finish or any other desired finish may be imparted to the grain side of the lift. In certain cases, however, it may be desired to impregnate the lift from all the surfaces thereof including the grain side which may be accomplished by holding the lift or a piece of leather stock below the surface of a molten sulphur bath until the desired impregnation has been accomplished.

Furthermore, as disclosed in our said copending application, the sulphur may if desired be plasticized by incorporating therein a suitable amount of a plasticizer. For example, 2% olefine polysulphide (known commercially as Thiokol) may be incorporated in the sulphur, or rubber may be associated with the sulphur for this pur pose.

Having described our invention, What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A shoe heel construction comprising a wood heel provided with a receiving socket, a post, a leather top lift secured to said post, said post being arranged to fit tightly into said receiving socket and to hold the lift with the flesh side thereof adjacent to the lower or top-15f t-receiving surface of said heel, the upper or flesh side and the edges of said heel lift from the flesh side to a point short of the grain side being impregnated with sulphur to a substantial depth, and the lowor or grain side of said heel lift being free from sulphur, whereby the grain side of the lift is preserved in its original condition, while the associated lift and post readily may be removed by insertion of a tool between thelift and the contiguous lift-receiving surface of the heel.

2. A shoe heel construction comprising a wood heel provided with a receiving socket, a post arranged to fit tightly into said receiving socket, a leather heel lift having at least its upper or flesh side impregnated with plasticized sulphur, said lift being secured to said post and disposed with the impregnated flesh side thereof directly adjacent to the lower or top-lift-receiving surface of said wood heel.

JOHN H. McGILL. WALTER H. WEDGER. 

